Thomas Nordahl Explained

Thomas Nordahl
Fullname:Thomas Gunnar Nordahl
Birth Date:24 May 1946
Birth Place:Norrköping, Sweden
Position:Forward
Years1:1964
Clubs1:Degerfors
Caps1:14
Goals1:4
Years2:1965–1968
Clubs2:Örebro
Caps2:77
Goals2:41
Years3:1968–1971
Clubs3:Juventus
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:1968–1971
Clubs4:Anderlecht (loan)
Caps4:75
Goals4:26
Years5:1971–1978
Clubs5:Örebro
Caps5:175
Goals5:55
Years6:1979–1980
Clubs6:BK Forward
Caps6:45
Goals6:21
Totalcaps:386
Totalgoals:157
Nationalyears1:1964
Nationalteam1:Sweden U19
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1965–1967
Nationalteam2:Sweden U21
Nationalcaps2:7
Nationalgoals2:6
Nationalyears3:1967–1975
Nationalteam3:Sweden
Nationalcaps3:15
Nationalgoals3:5
Managerclubs1:BK Forward
Manageryears2:1981–1984
Managerclubs2:Sandvikens IF
Manageryears3:1985
Managerclubs3:IK Grand Bodø
Managerclubs5:Motala AIF
Manageryears6:1995
Managerclubs6:IFK Norrköping

Thomas Gunnar Nordahl (born 24 May 1946) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is also a former manager.

He played his club football for Degerfors IF, Örebro SK, R.S.C. Anderlecht, and BK Forward during a career that spanned between 1964 and 1980. A full international between 1967 and 1975, he won 15 caps and scored 5 goals for the Sweden national team. He represented Sweden at the 1970 FIFA World Cup. After his playing career he worked as a manager with BK Forward, Sandvikens IF,[1] Motala AIF, and IFK Norrköping.[2]

He is the son of former professional footballer Gunnar Nordahl.[3] [4]

Club career

Nordahl made his debut in the Allsvenskan in 1964 for Degerfors IF when he was 17 years old. A year later, he moved to Örebro SK and became a key player there. He played 77 matches for the Swedish side and scored 41 goals. 1968 he moved to the Italian club Juventus, who had finished third in Serie A during the 1967–68 season. However, shortly after Nordahl signed the contract, the Serie A issued a ban which stopped all clubs from bringing in foreign players. Nordahl was contracted with Juventus but couldn't play because of this ban. This forced Juventus to loan him out to Belgian side R.S.C. Anderlecht. Nordahl stayed in Anderlecht for three years, until 1971; after those three years, his contract with Juventus ended, but the ban still had not been lifted. Nordahl left the club without playing a match for them and went to his old club Örebro. He played there for 7 years between 1971 and 1978, making 175 appearances and scoring 65 goals, resulting in a total of 252 appearances and 106 goals for the club. In 1979 (the season began 1980) he went to another Swedish club, BK Forward, and played 45 matches and scored 21 goals. In 1980, an injury forced Nordahl to quit playing football and the age of 34.

International career

Nordahl made 15 international appearances for the Sweden national team between 1967 and 1975, and scored 5 goals. He also made 15 appearances for the Swedish youth teams. Nordahl was included in the Swedish squad for the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.[5]

Coaching career

Following his retirement from professional football, Nordahl went on to coach a number of Swedish clubs, including BK Forward, Sandvikens IF,[1] Motala AIF, and IFK Norrköping.[6]

Career statistics

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!Year!Apps!Goals
Sweden196711
196852
196910
197020
197110
197200
197300
197420
197532
Total155

Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nordahl goal.

No.! scope="col"
DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
13 September 1967Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, Norway1–01–3UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying[7]
22 May 1968Malmö Stadium, Malmö, Sweden1–01–1Friendly[8]
327 June 1968Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden2–12–11968–71 Nordic Football Championship[9]
430 June 1975Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–03–1UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying[10]
52–1

Honours

Player

RSC Anderlecht

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tränare genom åren . 2022-10-21 . Sandvikens IF.
  2. Web site: Tränare . 2022-10-21 . Gruvstugan. https://web.archive.org/web/20190629141724/http://www.gruvstugan.com/tranare.htm . 2019-06-29 .
  3. http://sok.se/idrottare/idrottare/g/gunnar-nordahl.html Gunnar Nordahl
  4. Web site: A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Gunnar Nordahl. acmilan.com. 8 February 2016.
  5. Web site: Thomas Nordahl - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll. 2021-10-29. www.svenskfotboll.se.. sv.
  6. http://www.gruvstugan.com/tranare.htm
  7. Web site: Norge - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll. 2021-10-29. www.svenskfotboll.se. sv.
  8. Web site: Sverige - Spanien - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll. 2021-10-29. www.svenskfotboll.se. sv.
  9. Web site: Sverige - Danmark - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll. 2021-10-29. www.svenskfotboll.se. sv.
  10. Web site: Sverige - Norge - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll. 2021-10-29. www.svenskfotboll.se. sv.
  11. Web site: Stora Grabbars Märke - Svensk fotboll. 2021-10-29. www.svenskfotboll.se. sv.